Means for binding bales



Sept. 18, 1934. R. w. MONTEN 1,973,823

MEANS FOR BINDING BALES Original Filed March 16, 1952 Patented Sept. 18, 1934 VMEANS FOR BINDING BALES Ragnar Wilhelm Monten, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Application March it, 1932, Serial No. 599,256. Renewed March 23, 1934. In Australia March 10 Claims. (01. 24-.-2s) V This invention relates to means for binding bales and embodies several main and salient features which are especially applicable for binding wool bales and also bales of jute sacks and the like.

One of the said improvements has reference to a tie plate or buckle formed with a relatively long depending tongue and an opening in the plate and in conjunction with said tongue 'means are provided for permanently attaching one end of a tie band thereto and in such a manner that when the band is in tension due to the expansion of a bale the tensional force is exerted at the end of the said tongue and causes same to act as a movable jaw and closes upon the free and other end of the said band which has been inserted. in the opening in the plate.

Also a further improvement relates to a concave or .curved form of tie plateor buckle and which as in the case hereinbefore referred to, has

an inclined and integral depending tongue and an opening in the plate formed by the displaced metal constituting the tongue which has been formed by the action of a die on a rectangular 25 metal plate or blank.

This curved form of tie plate also has one end of a metal tie band permanently attached to the tongue and the adjacent end of the plate and is useful in binding wool bales but is especially useful in binding jute packs which latter after being released from the pressure of a press exert a pressure of thousands of pounds to the square inch and the expansive force of whichis very rapid in its action and with the result that the raised end portions of the curved or concaved plate are quickly straightened and thus drawn towards the tongue and the tongue owing to its length and flexibility is drawn in turn towards the said plate with the result that the gap or opening between the end of the tongue and the transverse edge bordering the openingin the tie plate is nearly closed and the free end of the metal tie band is jambed between the end of the tongue and transverse edge referred to and prevented from slipping when .the'bal'e or pack is fully expanded." The said invention also embodies a concave tie plate construction furnished with two oppositely disposed integral tongues and openings in the plate. In "order to render the depending tongue more flexible and especially if the tie plate is madeof comparatively thick sectioned metal, an opening is formed in same and which enables it together with its length to yield to the tensional pressure of the metal tie band and to. more readily respond to the tenslonal leverage acting at the end of the tongue.

A further advantage obtains by the use of this invention as the formation of the tie plate can be readily and cheaply obtained by employing a die which makes an opening in the plate and provides the tongue and which structure or formation is obtained by one stroke of the said die.

Also the method or means of securing one end of the tie band to the tongue is such that it can I be performed rapidly and effectually by means'of a machine which I have invented for the purpose and with the result that the said permanent end portion of the band is pressed firmly and closely upon the tongue and is then drawn rearwards and has its end pressed down upon the adjacent outer surface of the tie plate and underneath the main portionof the band which is thus superimposed thereon, and the greater the tension of the band the greater the inward pressure the main portion or outer portion of the band exerts upon the end of same bearing upon the tie plate. This function effectively prevents the permanent end of the band slipping or becoming disengaged from the said tongue.

The said invention will now be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawing wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a tie plate constructed according to this invention, and wherein the metal employed is of comparatively thin cross section.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tie plate formed with an apertured tongue.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the tie plate shown in Fig. 1 and with the tongue and adjacent end of the plate bound permanently by one end portion of the tie band.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the tie plate with the ends of the tie band attached thereto and when the plate is laid upon a compressed bale.

Fig. 4 shows the tie plate after it has been subjected to the tension of the metal tie band and with the tongue drawn towards the plate.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a concaved form of tie plate. a

' Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the concave form of tie plate with the ends of the tie band attached thereto and as it would be placed upon a compressed bale. r

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a modified form of concaved tie plate furnished with two depending tongues. V

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of Fig. *1 and showing the means for attaching the ends of the metal tie band thereto, and

Fig. 9 is a detail of the invention.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing a; indicates generally one form of tie plate made of comparatively thin sectioned mild steel, and comprises a rectangular metal blank which is subjected to the action of a die which severs and displaces the greater. portion of the metal to provide a longitudinally disposed and depending tongue b and an opening 0. c is the transverse edge of said openingandd is one ledge and e the other ledge of the plate.' The tongue so formed is nearly three quarters the length of the plate and being made of thin metal functions as a movable jaw whensubjected to the tension of the tie band portion ,1 and is drawn towards the body of the said plate to reduce the space or opening between the end 12 of the tongue and the transverse edge e and thereby eflective" ly grips the free end portion 7 of the band and which is clearly shown by referring to Fig. 4.

In Figs. 1*, 2,3, and'e a tie plate of thicker gauge metal is shown and which plate is also provided withan integral and longitudinally dispos'ed'dependingtongue b,'and'owi'ng to this increased thickness of the metal the tongue is preferably apertured as at g which increases its flexibility and enables it to be drawn towards the plate when the tie band is in tension. In order to permanently attach one end of the band to the tongue the latter is'passed about the tongue and drawn rearwards and finally bent down upon the adjacent ledge d of the plate and in such position it lies underneaththe main pq tion of the band, and as it is pressed down tightly upon said ledge and also pressed firmly about the tongue this end of the band becomes a permanent attachmerit. When tension is applied by the band. the greater the tensionthe greater the inward pressure exerted by the outer portion of said band upon the end of the band lying on the ledge d and thus'the end of the band is effectively prevented from slipping. Alsothe band is so bound to thetongue as to exert its leverage at'the end of saidtongue and the latter being of considerable length and rendered flexible by the. aperture 9 it is forced or drawn towards the plate and in so doing grips the free end I of the band which is retained between the end 12 of said tongue and the transverse 'edge' 0 of the opening 0. It will be understood that when employing a long tongue of thin metal or an apertured tongue of comparatively thick metal that the expansive force of the bale tends to force the tongue outwards and towards the plate. "I'he length of the tongue is an important factor inasmuch as the gain in leverage is obtained owing to the distance from the endto. the root of the tongue, the root of the tongue'acting as a fulcrum when the band is in tension. When the tie plate is placed upon a bale under compression in a press, the tongue rests upon the surface of the bale and with one end of 'theband permanently attached thereto, and rendering it only necessary for the operative to insert the freeend f of the band in the opening in the plate and which end portion contacts with the band covered end of the tongue and with a small portion of the band projecting underneath said tongue, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Immediately the bale expands the band is in tension and ,a right-angled bend is formed on the free portion of the band where it bears against the transverse edge (2 of the opening in the plate, and

- which edge acts asa shoulder or abutment and tends to prevent the band slipping. Upon the bale expanding the tongue is subjected to the pressure of the bale and the tension of the permanently fixed end of the band and the band portion projecting underneath the tongue is finally bent outwards and pressed against the band covered undersurface of the tongue and assumes the position shown in Fig. 4. The plates shown in Figs. 2 and 3 are more or less diagrammatic as the band covered end of the tongue lies in a perpendicular line to the edge 0 in the tie plate and the end i of. the band when it is inserted in the opening in said plate would lie slightly to the right hand of said edge, the correct position of this end of the band being clearly shown in Fig. 4. This outward bend in the band portion lying between the edge 0 and the end 22 of the tongue when the tongue has reached the limit of its outward movement effectively prevents any possibility of the band slipping.

In Fig. 4, the opening 0 is shown considerably reduced, and the free end f of the band rigidly retained to the plate, the arrows in said figure indicating-the tensional forcesacting at the ends of the band. V

In Figs. 5 and 6, a denotes the concaved form of tie plate and which is also formed with a long depending tongue and an'opening in saidtongue and which opening is required to render the tongue flexible if the metal employed is or thick gauge or cross section. Also in this form of tie plate one end of'the tieband is permanen'tly'attached to the tongue and adjacent end of the plate as shown in Fig. 6. This form of tie plate is its especially useful'in binding jute packs or bales wherein the expansion of such is very sudden when relieved from the pressure of a press and when such occurs the tensional' forces acting at the ends of the tie band exert an inward pullupon the upturned end portions of the plate and fiatten same which also has the efiect of drawing said plate portions towards the tongue and restricting the opening in said plate resulting in the free end of'the band being efiectivelyjambed between the end of the tongue and edge of the opening in said plate. Also the pressure on the underside of the tongue is considerable and said pressure also forces the tongue towards the plate.

In either form of tie plate the edge 0 may be concaved as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l -and which concavity provides a better gripping sur- 1 I face for the free end'portion ofthetie band. This surface is so formed by the provision of a similar cutting edge on the die used to displace the metal of the plate or blank, and in which case the end of the tongue is convexed. Alternatively the jtional contact and resists anytendency to slip when it .is in tension.

In Figs. 7, and 8, the concaved tie plate is shown formed with two oppositely disposed depending tongues h, the openings (1. being formed above the ends of said tongues for the reception of the free ends iof the tie band,

In this case it is not necessary to permanently afiix one end of the band to the tongue, the metliod adopted being to insert eachend of the band through the opening or itsv particular opening in the plate and move same forwardly underneath the adjacent tongue, bothends of the band when correctly placed in position overlapping as shown inFig. 8., In this modification owing to the area of metal displaced to provide the tongues, the operation is very rapid as the ends of the plate are quickly bent inwards or upon the tongues with the result that both ends of the bands are rigidly retained to the plate and prevented from slipping. The openings in the plate and the tongues are also formed in this case by the action of a die which in one operation severs and displaces the metal portions of the plate which constitutes the depending tongues.

It will be understood that in the concaved forms of tie plates that finally and when subjected to the tension of the tie bands, especially when binding jute packs, said plates assume the form or shape shown in Fig. 4, though the upper surfaces may be slightly convexed, but which convexity if any, is hardly appreciable.

It is foun'd,'that when the metal band is in "tension and contacts with the sharp edge of the surface or edge e that the latter acts as a knife and tends to cut the band. To obviate this, the upper end of c is curved or rounded as at 0 also for a similar reason, the end of the tongue is rounded as at b and as shown in Fig. 9.

When the ends of the tie band are attached to a tie plate as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawing, no projecting ends of the band are exposed to injure or cut the hands of the operatives which is at present very prevalent.

The tie plates are preferably made from blanks of mild steel and are best able to resist the tension of the metal bands and furthermore, are amenable to the action of a die.

The present custom of binding bales consists of forming holes in the end portions of the bands and when said end portions are overlapped, studs or rivets are inserted in the coincident opening in the bands, necessitating the use of bands of relatively large widths and of thick gauge. The said holes are not always centred in the bands with the result that the said bands often tear or come apart adjacent the said openings. Owing to my improved method of securing the ends of the metal band to the tie plates, comparatively thin bands and of greatly reduced widths can be employed as compared with the present tie bands employed.

I claim:--

1. In binding bales, a metal plate of substantial cross section, a long and inclined depending tongue formed with said plate and an opening in said plate and lying above the end of the said tongue, an opening formed in said tongue to render same flexible, means for permanently attaching one end of a metal tie band to said tongue and the adjacent end of the plate, and means upon insertion of said band in the opening in the plate for closing said tongue upon said free end of the band when the bale expands and the band is in tension.

2. Means for binding bales, comprising a curved metal plate, the upper surface of which is concaved said curved surface lying uppermost when placed upon a compressed bale, a long inclined depending tongue formed with said plate, and an opening in the plate located above the end of the said tongue, a metal tie band, one end of said band for permanent attachment to said tongue and the adjacent end of the plate, a hole formed in said tongue to render it flexible, the free end of the band adapted to be inserted in said opening in the plate and contacting with and projecting beyond the band covered end of said tongue, whereby said plate' when placed upon a bale under compression and with the end of the band connected therewith and upon expansion of the bale and when the band is in tension, is

straightened and forced towards the tongue and the said tongue being in turn forced towards the plate whereby the opening in said plate is reduced thereby causing the said tongue toclose upon said free end of the band and to hold same to the said plate as set forth.

3. Means for binding bales, including a .concaved tie plate having an opening therethrough, an elongated tongue extending .forwardly and downwardly from said tie plate, said tongue rendered flexible by means of an aperture therein, said tie plate adapted to receive through the open ing therethrough the ends of a tie band, one of said ends for permanent attachment to said tie plate and means for locking the free end of the tie band to the tie plate upon tension being applied to the tie band. I

4. Means for binding bales includi'ng a concav'ed tie plate having an opening therethrough, an elongated tongue extending forwardly from the tie plate and below the opening therethrough, said plate member adapted to receive through the opening therein the ends of a tie band, one of said ends for permanent attachment to the tie plate, the free end or the tie band for locking to said tie plate upon the flattening thereof when tension is applied to the tie band.

5. A tie plate for securing the opposite ends of a tie band together in binding bales and the like, said plate having a tongue member formed therefrom and bent inwardly through the plate from its attached end to form an opening through the plate for receiving the opposite ends of a tie band extended inwardly therethrough, said tongue member adapted to have one end of the tie band extended inwardly and bent over the free end thereof into substantially permanently attached position thereon whereby the tongue is bent upwardly toward the plate by the tension exerted thereon by the band in secured position on a bale, and the free end of the tongue carrying the band bent thereover adapted to engage and lock the opposite end of the tie band on and against the adjacent edge portion of the plate opening when the tongue is bent upwardly by the band tension thereon.

6. In binding bales and the like, a tie plate having a tongue member formed therefrom and bent inwardly through the plate from its attached end to form an opening through the plate, said tongue member inclined inwardly from its attached end across the opening with its free end spaced inwardly from the adjacent edge of the plate opening, a tie band having one end thereof extended across the outer side of the end of the plate adjacent the attached end of the tongue and then inwardly through the opening and around the free end of the tongue into substantially permanently attached position thereon, the opposite end of the tie band extended inwardly through the plate opening between the free end of the tongue and the adjacent edge of the plate opening and the tongue bent outwardly toward the plate by the outward pull exerted thereon by the attached end of the tie band to bind the opposite end of the band in locked position therebetween and against the central portion thereof and bent inwardly from the plate from it's attached end to form an opening through the plate for receiving the opposite ends of a tie band extended inwardly therethrough, said tongue member adapted to have one end of a tie band substantially permanently attached over the inner free end thereof whereby the pull exerted by the band will bend the tongue outwardly toward the plate opening, and the end of the tongue when bent outwardly adapted to engage and lock the opposite end of the tie plate between the end of the tongue and the adjacent edge portion of the plate opening.

8. A tie plate for securing the opposite ends of a tie band together in binding bales and the like, said tie plate having a tongue bent inwardly from theplate to form an opening therethrough, the inner end of saidtongue adapted to have one end of a tie band bent thereover into substantially permanently secured position on the tongue whereby the tongue is bent outwardly toward the plate opening by the band when tension is applied thereto, the space between the end of the tongue with the tie band thereover and the adjacent edge of the plate opening being less than the thickness of the opposite end of the tie band, and the free end of the tongue when bent outwardly by the tie band under tension adapted to engage and bind the opposite end. of the tie band between such end of the tongue and the adjacent edge portion of the plate opening.

9. A tie plate for securing the opposite ends of a tie band together in binding bales and the like, said tie plate formed of substantial thickness and having a relatively elongated tongue menicer cut therefrom and formed with an opening therethrough adjacent its base or attached end to render the tongue more readily bendable, said tongue member bent inwardly from the tie plate to provide an opening through the plate for receiving the opposite ends of a tie band therein said tongue adapted to have one end of a tie band substantially permanently secured over its'i'nner free end wherebythe tongue is bent outwardly toward the plate opening by the attached end'of the band when the band is placed under tension, and the free end of the tongue adapted, to engage and opening, a tie band having one end thereof extended across the outer side of the end of theplate adjacent theattached end of the tongue and then inwardly through the opening longitudinally of the tongue and around the free end of the tongue, said end of the tie band then extended outwardly and longitudinally along the inner side of the tongue to the end of the plate with the band end bent back over the plate beneath the length of band at the plate outer side, whereby the band is substantially permanently attached to the tongue, the opposite end of the band inserted inwardly through the plate opening between the free end of the tongue member and the adjacent edge of the plate opening, and the end of the tie band attached to. the tongue member bending said member outwardly when the band is placed under tension to bind and lock the opposite end of the band between such tongue end and the adjacent edge portion of the plate.

V RAGNOR WILI-IELM MONTEN. 

